Treasure not Trash
Waste avoidance strategies and ideas Publication details
Published by Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) Division P II 2 · 11055 Berlin · Germany Email: [email protected] · Website: www.bmu.de/english
Edited by BMU, Division WR II 1
Design PROFORMA GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin
Printed by Druck- und Verlagshaus Zarbock GmbH & Co. KG, Frankfurt am Main
Picture credits See page 51.
Date November 2019
First print run 500 copies (printed on recycled paper)
Where to order this publication Publikationsversand der Bundesregierung Postfach 48 10 09 · 18132 Rostock · Germany Telephone: +49 30 / 18 272 272 1 · Fax: +49 30 / 18 10 272 272 1 Email: [email protected] Website: www.bmu.de/en/publications
Notice This publication of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety is distributed free of charge. It is not intended for sale and may not be used to canvass support for political parties or groups. Further information can be found at www.bmu.de/en/publications
2 Treasure not Trash Table of contents
Introduction 4
Waste avoidance strategies Cherish products and use them for a long time Repair it, don’t throw it away 6 Reuse it, don’t throw it away 8 Use it, don’t own it 10 Enable consumers to make sustainable decisions Encouraging wise decision-making (nudging) 12 Use ecolabels and environmental certifications 14 Make online shopping more sustainable 16 Education – informing and raising awareness 18 Improve product design Promoting product durability 20 Ecodesign – reducing environmental impacts 22 Create market incentives Introduce cost accounting to avoid waste 24 Waste avoidance strategies and procurement systems 26
Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste Disposable tableware 28 Disposable drinking cups (takeaway coffee) 30 Single-use bags 32 Packaging 34 Food 36 Electrical equipment 38 Batteries 40 Textiles 42 Detergents and cleaning agents 44 Building materials 46
Where can I find further information on avoiding waste? 48
Treasure not Trash 3 Introduction
When we have something we no longer need, we throw it away. This has con- sequences: according to the United Nations Environment Programme, more than seven billion tonnes of waste is produced worldwide each year, more than two billion tonnes of which is municipal waste. Every kilogram of waste started out as raw material from natural resources, which was then made into a prod- uct using energy, water, air and human labour. Not only that: the pressure on ecosystems is constantly increasing, because the growing global population and continued economic growth are leading to rising consumption of goods and raw materials.
But what exactly does that mean? It means that we – be that governments, businesses or ordinary people – have to find new ways of doing things. Many entrenched structures and cherished patterns of behavior need to be carefully examined: Are statutory frameworks fit for purpose? How can businesses pro- duce goods more sustainably? Do we really need single-use items such as take- away coffee cups or plastic plates? Do we need to drive heavy cars that use large amounts of raw materials? Do we have to follow short-lived trends and re-stock our wardrobe every season? Many such things come to mind, and the number of questions appears endless.
What can we do in practice? A lot! However, this means having the right frameworks in place, enough alternative courses of action, transparent infor- mation – and last but not least the will to play our part. The purpose of this brochure – Treasure not Trash – is to present specific ideas on how to avoid waste and help people take the right decisions in doing so. It aims to support active dialogue within society on the matter of waste avoidance, a dialogue in which you, too, can make part: when you decide to take action and avoid waste, let others know about it. Explain to people around you – family, friends, cus- tomers, employees, guests – why you are making a change. In that way you can motivate others to take action themselves.
The tips and recommendations are intended for private individuals, but also for decision-makers in businesses, local authorities and public institutions such as schools or universities. Each and every one of us can play their part through what we do. There are, of course, countless other possible ways of avoiding
4 Treasure not Trash waste. Waste avoidance is a process involving the whole of society, not just a single programme or a package of government measures. And there are many things that can’t be enforced by statutory regulations.
Waste avoidance strategies (pages 6 to 26) There is no ready-made blueprint for successfully avoiding waste. What is needed, then, are not just measures targeted at individual products or fields but also overarching strategies that can be applied as broadly as possible:
→ cherish products and use them for a long time → enable consumers to make sustainable decisions → improve product design → create market incentives
Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste (pages 28 to 47) Whether private individuals, businesses, retailers or local authorities – each of these actors can make an important contribution to waste avoidance. This is true in almost every area of life: from building and housing to clothing and food, not to mention washing and cleaning.
One key issue is the approach to single-use products, items that are only used once and then disposed of immediately. As these products, are of little value, we tend to dispose of them more carelessly compared to other products, and so they end up in the environment. There are many materials and products where the amount of waste could be significantly reduced by people being more aware of how they shop and consume goods. This applies to items such as packaging, foodstuffs and textiles, whereas in other areas, such as electrical appliances, batteries, building materials or detergents and cleaning products, it is mainly retailers and businesses who need to take action. This brochure contains practi- cal recommendations and useful tips on how to avoid unnecessary waste and in that way contribute to protecting the environment and conserving resources. It also features examples of relevant initiatives and projects.
Treasure not Trash 5 Repair it, don’t Extending the useful throw it away life of a product
The washing machine stops working, the teddy bear loses an ear. When some- thing breaks, we tend to replace it with a new item instead of repairing the old one. This means that products that have not truly reached the end of their use- ful life wind up in the bin. There are many reasons for this. Some products are simply not suitable for repair because of the way they are designed. Other prod- ucts cannot be repaired because spare parts are no longer available or repairing them is too complicated. In many cases it is more expensive to repair a product than to buy a new one, or there is no repair shop nearby. The objective must therefore be to simplify the process of repairing appliances, textiles, furniture or toys so that they can be used for longer.
Examples of projects and initiatives Repair things together, use them for longer Many towns and cities now have repair cafés where tools and information are available to help people get things repaired. Based on the principle of helping people to help themselves, they have skilled volunteers on site to lend a hand if needed.
A round table promoting repair The Round Table Repair Germany is an association of environmental organisations, consumer protection initiatives and repair centres working with business and the science community. Its aim is to encourage the repair of products and thereby extend their useful lifespan (www.runder-tisch-reparatur.de).
6 Treasure not Trash | Cherish products and use them for a long time What can I do as a consumer? → If an item is faulty, make use of your rights under the statutory two-year guarantee to have it repaired instead of claiming a new one. → Use the services provided by repair cafés, workshops, tailors and other facilities that offer to repair products. → When shopping for a new product, look out for repair-friendly design, for example products certified with the Blue Angel eco- label.
What can I do as an economic operator? Retail trade → In the shop: provide information for customers on whether and how a product can be repaired. → Offer repair services in the shop – for instance the services of an in-house tailor. → In the event of claims under warranty or guarantee: offer to repair the product instead of supplying a new one.
Manufacturers and businesses → Develop repair-friendly products, for example ones that can be opened without being destroyed and can be repaired using con- ventional tools. → Keep relevant spare parts in stock. → Make repair manuals and videos available online. → On the packaging: provide information for customers on whether and how a product can be repaired.
Local authorities → Use the internet or print information leaflets to inform the pub- lic about where items can be repaired. → Provide premises to house facilities such as repair cafés.
Treasure not Trash | Cherish products and use them for a long time 7 Reuse it, don’t
Use products until the throw it away end of their useful life
The children have grown out of their clothes? You need a more powerful com- puter, but the old one is still working? Often, something you discard may still be of use to others. It makes particular sense to reuse products that have been used for only a short time, products such as children’s toys, books, clothing or sports equipment. Reusing such items not only avoids waste, it also benefits the community: often, shoppers find an inexpensive product on online sec- ond-hand platforms that would be unaffordable to them when bought new. Moreover, second-hand stores offer people in many towns and cities an oppor- tunity to re-enter the job market.
Examples of projects and initiatives The department store with a difference Second-hand department stores were established for the purpose of bring- ing usable items back into use. Today many cities have such stores, or sometimes also pop-up stores, which are set up in a particular location for just a short time. The products they offer are sourced from careful roadside bulky waste collections, for example, or from recycling centres, private donors or house clearances. Before they are sold, the items are checked and, if necessary, refurbished or repaired.
Pre-owned goods at the click of a mouse Online second-hand platforms are places where you can sell, buy, swap or give away used items that are in good condition. If you restrict your search to places nearby, you can save on postage and collect the item directly from the seller.
8 Treasure not Trash | Cherish products and use them for a long time What can I do as a consumer? → Rather than throwing away items that you don’t use any more, sell them or donate them. → Often you may find inexpensive second-hand products that are of higher quality than cheap goods bought new.
What can I do as an economic operator? → Put up shelves for books or place ‘reuse’ boxes at suitable loca- tions, for example in the canteen. → Rather than disposing of returned items or surplus stock, offer them for sale as second-hand products or donate them. → Create your own sales platform for used products. → Introduce a return and reuse scheme or join an existing one.
What can local authorities do? → Arrange for empty premises to be used as pop-up stores selling second-hand goods. → Support local or regional second-hand stores. → Keep the public informed about second-hand items for sale in your local area; provide information online and use leaflets.
Treasure not Trash | Cherish products and use them for a long time 9 Use it, don’t own it Support sustainable consumer behaviour
Did you know that, on average, cars stand around unused for 23 hours each and every day? There are many other products, too, that people spend a lot of money on and then use relatively infrequently. In such cases, a good alternative to buying is sharing – in other words, use it, don’t own it. For instance, you can use online sharing platforms to share a variety of products with people in your area. This not only saves the initial outlay, it also helps to significantly reduce the amount of products that at some point down the line will end up as waste. More and more consumers are reluctant to tie themselves to a product for the long term and just want to use as and when they need it. Today, many compa- nies offer such services and use it the new business opportunities that the shar- ing concept has opened up.
Examples of projects and initiatives Hire tools, don’t buy them Many do it yourself (DIY) stores offer equipment for hire by the hour or by the day, items such as power drills, pressure washers, building dryers or gardening machinery. This means you can tackle DIY tasks without having to buy expensive specialised devices.
A bike on subscription? Hiring rather than buying – now some bicycle companies are offering this service too. The bike is delivered to your door free of charge and you get free repairs and a fully functioning replacement bike whenever you need it.
Spotlessly clean with a rented machine Carpet cleaning appliances can be rented for up to three days from certain household stores and DIY chains. You don’t need to buy the device; the cleaned upholstery and carpets stay pretty for longer, and you keep them longer too.
10 Treasure not Trash | Cherish products and use them for a long time What can I do as a consumer? → Think whether it might make sense to share, hire or lease certain things. Many products can be used jointly by neighbours in a community. → In large cities, offers of car-sharing services are on the increase. Car sharing is especially advantageous for people who drive less than 10,000 kilometres per year.
What can I do as an economic operator? → For many companies, the trend towards sharing rather than owning opens up new market opportunities, for instance in the form of rental services. → Housebuilders can support this trend by providing parking spots for shared cars, for example, or spaces to store jointly used gar- dening equipment.
Treasure not Trash | Cherish products and use them for a long time 11
Encouraging wise Motivation for waste avoidance decision-making (nudging)
The term nudging has its origins in behavioural psychology. Nudging makes use of insights gained in this field and accommodates people’s need for sim- plicity, convenience and habit. It gently prepares the ground for people to take alternative courses of action, using positive stimuli rather than rules or bans. Subtle incentives are applied with the aim of breaking up individuals’ habit and effortlessly changing behaviours. While the person targeted by this approach still retains freedom of choice, a little nudge in the right direction is meant to make it easier for them to opt for the more beneficial alternative.
Examples of projects and initiatives How much water am I using? A consumption display installed in the shower motivates people to save water and energy. A similar solution, applied to the subject of waste, could help people gauge the amounts of waste they produce and encourage them to reduce these amounts.
Hotels: using towels more than once Many hotels have had very good results using nudging to induce their guests to behave in a greener way. Signs or stickers in bathrooms raise guests’ awareness, telling them that they can help the environment by using their towels more than once or that 75 percent of guests reuse their towels. In the best-case scenario, guests then adjust their behaviour and do not want a fresh towel supplied every day.
12 Treasure not Trash | Enable consumers to make sustainable decisions What can I do as a consumer? → Be more aware when exercising your freedom of choice. – Example: check the default settings on printers (usually sin- gle-sided printing) and switch to double-sided printing. – Where possible use a shopping basket rather than a big shopping trolley, as the latter tends to look emptier and thus entices you to buy more.
What can I do as an economic operator? Retail trade → Position environmentally friendly products where customers can easily access them. → Staff at the tills should ask whether the customer needs a receipt; if not, do not print one. Put up signs or posters suggesting ways of avoiding waste.
Catering and hotel industry → Provide small plates at buffets. → Put a sign on paper towel dispensers in the toilets stating that one or two paper towels are sufficient for most users.
Manufacturers → Ensure that the default settings on appliances are better for the environment, such as double-sided printing on printers. → Label minimal-packaging products as such, indicating the per- centage of packaging saved.
What can local authorities or educational institutions do?
→ Provide tap water in canteens and during events.
Treasure not Trash | Enable consumers to make sustainable decisions 13 Use ecolabels and Reliable information for consumers environmental certifications
Reliable information about the environmental quality of individual products is very helpful when it comes to avoiding waste. In their busy lives, most peo- ple just don’t have the time to find out about the amount of resources used or indeed wasted during the manufacture of a particular product. Well-estab- lished and trustworthy product labels provide guidance here.
Examples of projects and initiatives Blue Angel For more than 40 years, the Blue Angel ecolabel has been used on products to signpost their envi- ronmentally friendly qualities, giving consumers a useful pointer when they are making purchasing decisions. The label is awarded by an independent jury according to specific criteria, such as the raw materials and energy used, the pollutant content, the durability and the production of waste mate- rial (www.blauer-engel.de).
14 Treasure not Trash | Enable consumers to make sustainable decisions What can I do as a consumer? → Pay more attention to ecolabels such as the Blue Angel. 92% of the German population said they knew what the Blue Angel was – however, only 37% said that it influenced their purchasing choices. → The website www.siegelklarheit.de (in German) provides exten- sive information on various ecolabels and helps you find your way in the label jungle.
What can I do as an economic operator? Retail trade → Products that are locally sourced and particularly environmen- tally friendly should be identified as such, so that customers can take this into account when choosing what to buy. → In your premises, provide explanations of the labels on the products. → Put up a list of products with the Blue Angel ecolabel.
Manufacturers and businesses → The Blue Angel label uses simple and transparent criteria to enable companies to avoid waste in their own procurement choices and, in many cases, to reduce costs over the entire life cycle of a product. → Manufacture products that meet the criteria for certification. → Advertise products that have been awarded ecolabels.
Treasure not Trash | Enable consumers to make sustainable decisions 15 Make online shopping Reduce waste in more sustainable mail-order retail
Online shopping is booming – and that means the number of parcels needing to be shipped is increasing rapidly. Transport uses energy and causes emissions, but it also increases waste because shipping packaging is only rarely reused, and often contains additional material to fill up oversized boxes.
The large number of returns is an especially critical factor, as some returned goods are simply disposed of straight away, meaning that new products end up in landfill unused. The offer of free returns can lead to many customers return- ing their purchases. This applies mainly to clothing, but electrical devices are also frequently sent back. By introducing a ‘duty to exercise proper care’, the amendment to the Circular Economy Act makes it mandatory for retailers, and especially online retailers, to ensure that returns and excess stock are kept in a usable condition and are not discarded merely for reasons of cost-efficiency.
Examples of projects and initiatives Information can stem the flood of returns In order to reduce the number of returns, many online and mail-order retailers put up information about their products on their websites. If they notice that a specific item is sent back very often, they check it to try and remedy the cause. In addition, customers who order an item of clothing in three or more sizes are actively advised that returning purchases causes
unnecessarily high CO2 emissions.
Trying on clothes online Meanwhile, some companies have introduced a kind of ‘virtual changing room’: customers can download pictures or allow protected access to their computer’s camera, enabling them to preview how the item of clothing would fit their body shape. This reduces the chances of buying the wrong size.
16 Treasure not Trash | Enable consumers to make sustainable decisions What can I do as a consumer? → Check whether the product you want is also available in shops in your vicinity, where you can try on clothes in different sizes and colours without having to send any back. → Plan your online shopping and combine multiple orders into one collective order – this saves packaging material. → Look out for descriptions given by retailers and for customer reviews to check for information such as whether the actual item sizes tend to be larger or smaller than the usual sizes. This helps avoid unnecessary returns.
What can I do as an economic operator? Retail trade → Charge customers for returns to reduce the number of packages sent back. → Consider donating returned items and clothes from previous seasons that are not put up for sale again. → Set up your own online second-hand shop selling returned goods. → Offer only those payment methods that discourage returns to customers who send back parcels particularly often (advance payment, instant bank transfers, direct debit). → Describe products as accurately as possible and provide lots of photographs. → If the goods are already packaged for sale in a sturdy box, do not add other packaging material.
Treasure not Trash | Enable consumers to make sustainable decisions 17 Education – informing and
raising awareness More knowledge about waste avoidance
Did you know that, in 2016, households in Germany produced 462 kg of waste per person? Do you know how you can avoid waste in your household? Infor- mation campaigns, projects in schools and universities, citywide days of action – there are plenty of ways to raise awareness of the issues surrounding waste avoidance, resource conservation and the circular economy. Educational mea- sures along these lines mainly focus on children and young people, so that they find out about waste and its impact on the environment early on in life.
Examples of projects and initiatives ‘Zero Waste’ project days in Berlin schools In 2018, the Berlin Senate Department for the Environment, Transport and Climate Protection, supported by experts from the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, launched a zero waste project aimed at schools. It involves organizing project days at several schools. Prior to the event, teachers receive a folder with background information to prepare for the project as well as suggestions for lessons. Trained environmental educa- tion officers then go on ‘raw material expeditions’ with the classes involved in the event. This is followed by a ‘journey of discovery’ around the school building to help the pupils identify the potential for waste avoidance at the school themselves.
School project ‘Give waste the boot’ The Germany-wide school project ‘Give waste the boot’ (‘Gib Abfall einen Korb’) set up by the National Working Group for Nature and Environmen- tal Education (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Natur- und Umweltbildung Bundes- verband e.V. – ANU) helps teaching staff incorporate the issues of waste and littering in public spaces into their lessons. In 2016, the project was granted a Network of Excellence award by the UNESCO Global Action Pro- gramme on Education for Sustainable Development.
18 Treasure not Trash | Enable consumers to make sustainable decisions What can I do as a consumer? → As in all areas of life, adults should lead by example when it comes to teaching children in their care how to avoid waste. → Use your social media channels to share how you play your part in avoiding waste.
What can I do as an economic operator? → Give a presentation to employees and colleagues on waste avoid- ance measures that your company could or does implement. → Take part in the European Week for Waste Reduction and raise awareness among your employees.
Manufacturers → Run workshops and provide training courses on ecodesign or allow your employees to take part in such seminars externally. → Post videos on your website to show how your products can be repaired.
What can local authorities or educational institutions do?
→ Introduce the issue of waste avoidance early on in pre-schools and schools. → Universities: include waste avoidance in the curriculum in rele- vant courses. → Take part in waste avoidance activities such as those during the European Week for Waste Reduction. → Carry out and support waste avoidance campaigns and put tips on how to avoid waste on your website.
Treasure not Trash | Enable consumers to make sustainable decisions 19 Promoting product Promote product design and use durability that avoids waste
In many cases, products are discarded and replaced even though they have not reached the end of their optimum service life or useful life. Studies commis- sioned by the Federal Environment Agency have shown that today items such as electrical appliances are not used for as long as they were even ten years ago. The effect of this is that valuable resources are wasted and the amount of waste rises. The term used to describe products being replaced prematurely is obso- lescence. In the case of economic obsolescence, a defective item is not repaired for financial reasons because the difference between the cost of repair and the cost of buying a new item is too small. Another phenomenon is psychological obsolescence, which describes a situation where consumers want to own a brand-new product even though the old one still works well. Different strate- gies are needed to counteract these two forms of obsolescence.
Examples of projects and initiatives Smartphone repair made easier In modular smartphones the use of click and screw connections makes it easier to repair components, thus extending the useful life of mobile phones. Manufacturers of such devices also provide repair manuals and supply appropriate tools with the device. A take-back system saves even more resources, as the returned phones are reused as ‘second-life’ mobiles whenever possible. Defective devices are disassembled, and any parts that still work are used to repair other smartphones.
20 Treasure not Trash | Improve product design What can I do as a consumer? → Ask yourself whether you actually need a new product or whether it would be enough to repair your existing one or replace a few parts. → Look for long-term durability when deciding what to buy – and let the suppliers know this is what you want. → When buying, look for manufacturer’s warranties, not only the statutory warranty. → Use reuse and repair services such as second-hand shops, exchange platforms, repair cafés or workshops. → Check for the Blue Angel ecolabel when buying a new product.
What can I do as an economic operator? → At the development stage, give thought to making the product durable and repairable, for example by using standardised mod- ular designs. → Manufacturers can contribute to increasing a product’s techni- cal lifetime by offering warranties or through leasing, hiring or repurchase agreements. → Leasing arrangements bind customers more closely to a com- pany while also ensuring that manufacturers continue to have access to their outdated devices, enabling them to analyse prob- lem areas in their products and to reprocess or repair returned devices before selling them on (at lower prices). → When advertising your products, emphasise that they are dura- ble and repairable as a hallmark of quality.
Treasure not Trash | Improve product design 21 Ecodesign – reducing Design that minimises waste environmental impacts
Ecodesign is a comprehensive approach to creating new products. The aim is to reduce the environmental impact of a product over its entire life cycle. Criteria such as repairability, replaceable components, potential for reuse and dura- bility are all taken into account from the outset, which means during product planning and design. Case studies show that life-extending product design can significantly reduce waste.
Examples of projects and initiatives Prizewinning designs Every year since 2012, the German Federal Ecodesign Award has rec- ognised particularly innovative and sustainable products, services and concepts. In order to receive the award, the products, services and concepts have to demonstrate not only outstanding ecological quality but also inno- vative approaches and excellent design. The competition is aimed at com- panies, designers and students.
Toolbox for product design The Ecodesign Kit is a teaching and information portal for students and teachers aimed at improving the eco-friendliness of product design. It contains teaching materials and information on aspects such as areas of environmental impact, materials, processes, principles of ecodesign and methods of analysis and evaluation.
22 Treasure not Trash | Improve product design What can I do as a consumer? → Find out whether a product can be repaired before replacing it with a new one. → Look for the Blue Angel ecolabel when buying a new product. → When buying a product, consider its durability and ask yourself whether a second-hand or refurbished device would suit your purposes.
What can I do as an economic operator? → Use robust and durable materials. → Make products modular using standardised components so that they can be easily disassembled, then cleaned, repaired and reused. → Ensure that spare parts are available and inform customers of this. → Provide regular software updates for products with digital content.
Treasure not Trash | Improve product design 23
Introduce cost Cost savings thanks to waste avoidance accounting to avoid waste
There are financial benefits to avoiding waste. Reducing the amount of waste enables companies to make cost savings in many areas, from procurement to storage, processing to transport, and, of course, disposal. All too often, though, this potential is not fully realised. A lack of transparency means that many companies do not know the overall costs of waste generation. Using specific instruments (including financial control) to assist with monitoring the costs of waste can help tap the economic potential of waste avoidance.
Examples of projects and initiatives Expertise for industry The VDI Centre for Resource Efficiency( VDI ZRE) pools available technical know-how on ways of making more efficient use of materials and energy in industry. The website www.resource-germany.com presents sector-specific information for companies operating in a variety of fields, from construc- tion to the processing of chemicals.
North Rhine-Westphalia: resource efficiency for industry and skilled trades The Effizienz-Agentur NRW (EFA NRW) aims its services at industrial com- panies and tradespeople in the German federal state of North Rhine-West- phalia, providing advice on resource efficiency in relation to production, ecodesign, maintenance, cost accounting and the carbon footprint. In addition, the agency offers training courses, workshops and events where people can find out about funding options, technical developments and best-practice solutions.
Hesse: promoting environmentally friendly production In Hesse, the PIUS-Beratung and PIUS-Invest programmes (consultancy for and investment in production-integrated environmental protection) support companies in their efforts to cut resource consumption.
24 Treasure not Trash | Create market incentives
Cost savings thanks to waste avoidance What can I do as an economic operator? Businesses → Organisations and institutions such as chambers of industry and commerce sometimes offer companies initial checkups free of charge to identify potential cost savings from waste avoidance. → Integrated cost accounting systems for small and medium-sized enterprises are one way in which potential for making specific savings by avoiding waste can be made more transparent. → Canteens and hospitals: intelligent approaches to avoiding food waste can lead to significant cost savings.
Treasure not Trash | Create market incentives 25 Waste avoidance strategies Public procurement and procurement systems as role model
Drawing up waste avoidance strategies in businesses, public institutions and towns or cities presents an opportunity to take a long-term approach to reduc- ing the amount of waste generated. Such strategies can begin by taking stock of the waste currently produced and identifying potential areas where waste avoidance can be achieved with minimum cost and effort. The process of devel- oping strategies can provide a chance to pool creative ideas and approaches, with input from as many participants as possible.
In addition, given the large procurement volumes involved, the public sector can make a significant contribution to waste avoidance by giving preference to purchasing products and services that save resources and avoid waste. By doing so, it can also serve as an example to other areas of the economy and to consumers.
Examples of projects and initiatives Kiel University: Zero Waste Kiel University (CAU) is the first university in Germany, where a waste pre- vention concept was implemented. One example of what it has achieved is saving ten tonnes of plastic waste by no longer lining every bin in the uni- versity’s offices with plastic bin liners.
Berlin: guidelines on public procurement The administrative regulation "Procurement and Environement" entered into force in July 2010 and was most recently amended in March 2019. It emphasises the importance of focusing on the procurement of environ- mentally sound services and products. One of its stipulations with respect to waste avoidance is that the city must not procure drinks in disposable containers or disposable dishes/cutlery for canteens or student restaurants or for major events.
26 Treasure not Trash | Create market incentives What can I do as an economic operator? → Develop your own waste avoidance strategies for the whole com- pany or for specific waste flows, areas or chains. → Adapt your products to meet public procurement requirements in terms of waste avoidance and resource efficiency. → Use events such as public sector user conferences to alert public sector actors to alternative products that avoid waste so that in the future these are considered more widely in public tendering. → Provide information on life cycle costs for individual products: What are the per annum costs of purchase, use and disposal? These costs are often lower for low-waste products. → Look for eco-standards such as the Blue Angel label, also among your own suppliers.
What can local authorities do? → Develop waste-avoidance strategies for your own organisations and facilities. → Draw up guidelines on preventing waste in public procurement and make it mandatory to take account of environmental con- siderations such as life-cycle costs, ecolabels, energy efficiency and energy management systems. → Provide sustainability training for employees working in pro- curement. → Follow guidelines on individual product groups and training scripts issued by the German environment agency (www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/topics/economics-consumption/ green-public-procurement).
Treasure not Trash | Create market incentives 27 Disposable Less litter in tableware public spaces
Whether at public events or at a barbecue in the park with friends, disposable cutlery, plates and cups are a popular choice. The problem is that at outdoor events people tend to throw away such items carelessly so that they end up in the environment. Besides, waste separation bins are rarely available to people eating away from home. Instead, everything is disposed of as general waste and can only be used for energy recovery, that is incinerated. Consequently, dispos- able products that are actually recyclable are not returned to the material cycle and, at worst, pollute the environment. Reusable tableware is the best alterna- tive in such cases – even if it involves some cost and effort. It is important to keep transport distances as short as possible and to use water and dishwashing liquid sparingly. The key issue however is to reuse such dishes, cups and cutlery as often as possible. Ideally, they are easily recyclable at the end of their useful life.
Examples of projects and initiatives Munich: Oktoberfest The Munich Oktoberfest is a global example of how to reduce the environ- mental impact of staging a major event. Since 1991, its waste avoidance concept has included a ban on disposable dishes and cutlery. Drinks are only sold in reusable bottles, for which a deposit has to be paid, and food is served on porcelain plates. The transport containers in which goods and the iconic steins are supplied must also be reusable. Measures such as these have enabled organisers to reduce the amount of residual waste at the Munich Oktoberfest and other events by more than 50 percent since 1991 (source: Munich Waste Management Company (AWM), 2016).
28 Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste What can I do as a consumer? → Take reusable dishes and cutlery with you to barbecues and other outdoor events. → When attending events or eating in restaurants choose reusable cutlery and dishes, even though there may also be disposable options.
What can I do as an economic operator? Manufacturers, businesses and catering → Expand your range of reusable items → Do not replace disposable plastic products with disposable items made from other materials, provide reusable solutions instead. → Provide reusable packaging/containers for food to be eaten on the go.
Retail trade → Offer reusable options rather than replacing disposable plastic products with disposable ones made from other materials. → On the retail floor, signpost reusable items in preference to dis- posable ones and indicate how they help to avoid waste.
What can local authorities do? → Raise awareness for waste avoidance among the public: take action to promote switching to durable and reusable products. → A ban on disposable tableware in the public sphere encourages the use of reusable items: it also lets local authorities act as an example for others, demonstrating how reusable items can be used in practice. → Provide reusable options at events
Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste 29 Disposable drinking cups Support reusable (takeaway coffee) solutions
The life of a takeaway coffee cup is short indeed: after an average of 10 to 15 minutes it has done its job and it ends up in the bin. Every year, 2.8 billion disposable cups for hot drinks are thrown away in Germany, 34 cups per person per year. 60 percent of these cups consist of plastic-coated paper, the other 40 percent consist entirely of plastic. In addition, around 1.3 billion plastic lids are discarded. In terms of volume, just the plastic-coated cups alone – the clas- sic takeaway coffee cups – are enough to fill around eight million municipal waste bins each year. If such cups are carelessly thrown away or fall out of over- flowing bins, they also pollute the environment. As a result, the plastic used to coat the paper cups ends up in nature. And even if plastic-coated paper cups are collected in recycling bins, they can’t actually be recycled. This is because the cups are extremely moisture-resistant; the fibres contained in them do not dis- solve quickly enough during the paper recycling process. In the end, therefore, the cups will be incinerated. Reusable products are a good alternative and a useful means of avoiding disposable cups.
Examples of projects and initiatives Say goodbye to disposable cups More and more cities and municipalities are introducing deposit schemes for reusable cups, which can be used for either hot or cold drinks. Reusable containers can also be useful for carrying other foodstuffs. The system operates according to the principle that customers pay a deposit for the cups in bakeries, supermarkets or cafés, and return them there after use or take them to a reverse vending machine. Finally, at the end of their useful life – after being washed and reused around 500 times – the cups can then be recycled. Since 2019, resource-friendly reuse schemes for coffee cups can receive the Blue Angel ecolabel.
30 Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste What can I do as a consumer? → Use reusable cups (either bring your own or use the ones offered on the premises) if you want to enjoy a coffee or other drinks when you are out and about.
What can I do as an economic operator? Catering → Participate in reuse or pooling systems, such as DE-UZ 210 reus- able cup systems under the Blue Angel label. For more informa- tion, go to www.blauer-engel.de. → Customers could be offered reusable coffee cups as a matter of course and only given disposable cups if they ask for them. → Offer discounts on coffee and other hot drinks served in reusable cups compared to drinks served in disposable ones. → The lids on takeaway coffee cups are the main culprits for their environmental impact. It therefore makes sense to give custom- ers reusable cups with reusable lids. → Enter into sector-wide agreements containing economic incen- tives, for instance adding a premium of 20 cents to disposable cups and ten cents to disposable lids.
Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste 31
Single-use bags Reduce the amount of single-use bags
Single-use shopping and grocery bags have a short useful life and are often used just once. However, there are simple ways of reducing the numbers used: if you remember to take a reusable bag or a basket with you when going out to shop, you don’t have to pick up a disposable one in the supermarket. Single-use bags made from paper use more resources, and so are not a sustainable alter- native from the environmental perspective. Bags made from biodegradable plastics are not a good choice either, because manufacturing these materials has a similar environmental impact to that of conventional plastics. Moreover, biodegradable bags are not currently recyclable in Germany and can only be used for energy generation, in other words they are incinerated.
Examples of projects and initiatives Making people pay for plastic bags In 2016, the German Retail Federation and the Federal Ministry for the Environment came to a voluntary agreement aimed at reducing the use of plastic shopping bags. The participating companies committed to stop giv- ing away plastic shopping bags for free. Since the agreement took effect the use of these bags has fallen from 68 per person per year in 2015 to 25 bags in 2018. However, this still amounts to a total of two billion plastic shop- ping bags a year.
Give priority to reusable food bags Reusable string bags or small reusable containers are a hygienic alternative to fruit and vegetable bags made from plastic. However, to ensure that cus- tomers do not pay more for their food than is appropriate, grocery shops must make it possible to deduct the weight of these containers from the weight of the fruit or vegetables at the till. If necessary they could also offer reusable string bags or containers for sale.
32 Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste What can I do as a consumer? → Rather than putting food in single-use bags, use reusable alter- natives – of whatever material. → Certain fruits and vegetables, such as apples and bananas, don’t need to be put in bags. → Take your own food bags or containers when going shopping.
What can I do as an economic operator? Retail trade → Introduce reuse systems, for example reusable string bags as replacements for plastic food bags or reusable containers for ber- ries. → Inform customers about the life cycle assessments of different kinds of bags, including single-use paper bags. → Give customers clear information on how reusable containers can be used for food such as cheese and sliced ham or other such products. → Encourage customers to bring their own bags, containers or boxes by putting up posters in your shops.
Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste 33 Packaging Reduce packaging waste
In 2016, a total of 18.2 million tonnes of waste from packaging material was created in Germany (Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung – GVM, 2018). This figure is 18 percent higher than in the year 2000 – and the trend is still upward. One of the reasons for this is changing consumer behaviour: ser- vice packaging is needed for food eaten on the go, many types of food are sold pre-packaged, small households buy smaller pack sizes rather than larger ones, and the expansion of online shopping increases the need for shipping packag- ing. Furthermore, packaging design is becoming increasingly complex, often leading to more materials being used, and thus more waste.
Examples of projects and initiatives Packaging-free shopping When shopping in zero-waste shops, customers can bring their own containers and prevent waste from packaging. The empty containers are weighed, the weight is recorded and the customers then fill them with food themselves. The full containers are weighed again at the checkout and the empty weight is deducted.
Drink tap water and avoid plastic waste Using reusable drinking bottles helps reduce the amount of plastic waste we create. In many cafés, bars and shops customers can have their own water bottles filled with tap water free of charge.
Guidelines for shipping packaging In September 2015, the German Environment Agency published guidelines for environmentally sound packaging to be used in mail order and online retailing (www.umweltbundesamt.de). The guidelines cover matters such as minimising the amount of shipping packaging and using environmen- tally friendly packaging material.
34 Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste What can I do as a consumer? → Choose packaging-free options when shopping, for instance in zero-waste shops or supermarkets offering loose goods; take fabric bags or reusable containers and string bags when going shopping. → Buy drinks in reusable/returnable bottles, preferably from regional suppliers. → Drink tap water rather than buying water in plastic bottles. → Shop locally as it saves transport, meaning food requires no elab- orate packaging. → Don’t buy snacks in plastic packaging, such as pre-cut fruit; instead buy fresh, local fruit and portion it out at home. → Buy goods in refill packaging(such as detergents, liquid soap) and make a point of asking retailers if they stock such goods.
What can I do as an economic operator? Retail trade → Develop zero-waste concepts for suitable products in combi- nation with efficient and environmentally friendly return and reuse systems. → Include goods in refillable containers in your product range. → Introduce return and reuse systems at the deli counter and for fruit, vegetables and dry goods.
Manufacturers and businesses → Develop packaging in line with ecodesign criteria, taking account of waste avoidance, recyclability and the use of recycled materials.
Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste 35
Food Halving food waste by 2030
Around a third of all food produced globally is thrown away. In Germany this amounts to more than 12 million tonnes of food every year that goes to waste, even though much of it is still edible. Reducing the proportion of food that is thrown away would have a positive impact on the environment, as the area of land and amount of energy needed to produce the food could be reduced. Less food waste also means lower emissions of greenhouse gases. Reducing the amount of food waste therefore also has a key part to play in achieving the global climate change targets under the Paris Agreement.
Examples of projects and initiatives Too good for the bin From practical information and tips on planning food shopping and storing to recipes for leftovers, the ‘Too good for the bin!’ initiative by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture provides a wealth of information on how to reduce food waste in Germany. It is targeted not just at consumers but also at businesses, local authorities and multipliers. The ‘Complete enjoyment’ (‘Restlos genießen’) campaign encourages restaurants and their guests to ensure that leftovers are taken home. In addition, every year the ministry awards a national ‘Too good for the bin!’ prize which recognises initiatives and businesses that have developed innovative concepts for avoiding food waste. Anyone interested in finding out more can go to the German-language website www.lebensmittelwertschaetzen.de.
Rescue food with an app A specially designed app enables users to buy leftover food from restaurants, cafés, supermarkets and bakeries and collect it during the hour before closing time (www.bmel.de/DE/Ernaehrung/ZuGutFuerDieTonne/_Texte/ Aktivitaeten-Lebensmittelverschwendung.html).
36 Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste What can I do as a consumer? → If you aren’t planning to buy much, if possible use a shopping basket rather than a shopping trolley. As a rule this means that you will end up buying less. → Use online platforms such as www.resterechner.de, where households can calculate the value of the foodstuffs they are throwing away. → Shopping lists and household planners help give an overview which foodstuffs you actually use, the amount you spend on food and the amount of food thrown away.
What can I do as an economic operator? Retail trade → Retailers such as bakeries selling goods that are freshly made every day can, for example, sell leftover products at discounted prices shortly before closing time, and advertise that they do so. → Cooperate with food banks and other social ventures; donate surplus food. → Offer foodstuffs that are past their sell-by/use-by date or bruised fruit/vegetables at a large discount or give them away for free.
Catering → Restaurants, event caterers and grocery stores can donate sur- plus food to food banks. Suppliers of products made fresh every day, such as bakeries, can sell leftover products at a discount shortly before closing time. → Restaurants and canteens should monitor the amount of food left on plates and serve smaller portions of meals producing more leftovers or generally offer two different portion sizes for all meals. → Provide small plates at buffets.
Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste 37 Electrical equipment Better raw materials for sustainable products
Today, we cannot imagine a world without electrical equipment. In 2016, almost two million new items of electrical and electronic equipment were sold in Germany – more than ever before. The fact is that these devices contain a variety of critical materials: not only valuable and often rare raw materials such as copper, aluminium, plastics, gold or neodymium but also chemicals that pose health or environmental risks, such as mercury, hydrofluorocar- bons (HFCs) or brominated flame retardants (BFRs). This makes it all the more important to ensure that such devices are disposed of in an environmentally sound way or that they are reused.
Examples of projects and initiatives Berlin: keeping old products in use Re-Use Berlin is a project set up by the Berlin Senate Department for the Environment, Transport and Climate Protection. Its aim is to actively promote the reuse of used goods in the capital. A variety of measures have been implemented, for instance creating a website where residents can find out where they can hand in used products. In addition, existing second-hand shops in Berlin have been grouped together under a single umbrella brand.
Boosting repair centres WIRD (Wiederverwendungs- und Reparaturzentren in Deutschland, reuse and repair centres in Germany) is a nationwide cooperation scheme among social and public institutions such as recycling centres, private/commercial manufacturers and the retail trade. The project has been supported by the Federal Environment Agency and is intended to strengthen the capabilities of not-for-profit reuse and repair centres.
Blue Angel for durability and repairability The Blue Angel ecolabel also addresses for example the longevity of recharge- able batteries and the ability to replace them (for example in mobile phones) or the availability of spare parts from manufacturers of household goods.
38 Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste What can I do as a consumer? → If a device is faulty, find out if it can be repaired before purchas- ing a new one. → Check whether buying a second-hand or refurbished device could be an alternative to buying a new product. → Buy electronic devices certified with the Blue Angel ecolabel. → Donate products that are still usable to reuse centres, give them away or sell them.
What can I do as an economic operator? Manufacturers → Pay greater consideration to the repairability of products during the design phase. → Use modular designs and do not glue rechargeable batteries. → Inform customers as clearly as possible about durability, repair- ability and upgrade options. → Do not use materials with potentially adverse impacts on the environment and health.
Retail trade → In the shop: give customers information about whether and how the product can be repaired, for example, and whether there is a manufacturer’s warranty.
What can local authorities do? → Support local reuse and repair centres. → Promote regional networks, for example on common quality standards. → Encourage public waste management companies to set up reuse centres.
Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste 39
Use batteries for a long time Batteries and dispose of them properly
They power smartphones and laptops, propel electric cars and make torches light up: batteries are an integral part of our everyday life. However, the pro- cess of manufacturing batteries is detrimental to the environment, heavily resource-consuming and energy-intensive. Batteries contain valuable and often even critical raw materials such as cobalt, manganese, so-called rare earth elements, gold, silver, nickel, copper, aluminium, lithium, zinc and iron/ steel. They also contain chemicals that are particularly hazardous for health or the environment such as mercury, cadmium and lead. Standard-size, non-re- chargeable batteries, also known as primary batteries, provide only a relatively small amount of energy and often do not completely discharge their energy content. As a result, they end up being thrown away after just a short period of use. Rechargeable batteries, on the other hand, can be recharged multiple times. Compared to primary batteries, rechargeable batteries are the greener solution after only a few charging cycles.
Examples of projects and initiatives UBA: handy guide to the useful life of batteries How do I dispose of empty batteries? What happens to rechargeable batter- ies that don’t work anymore? What are the environmental and health risks of standard and rechargeable batteries? How can I increase the life span of rechargeable batteries? These and other questions are answered by the Federal Environment Agency in a handy guide to standard and recharge- able batteries. The guide can be downloaded from the Federal Environment Agency website free of charge. (www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/ files/medien/publikation/long/4414.pdf)
40 Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste What can I do as a consumer? → Check whether battery-powered products also work with rechargeable batteries. → Use rechargeable rather than standard batteries as they can be recharged numerous times, saving raw materials needed for their manufacture. → You can prolong the life of rechargeable batteries by not con- tinuously charging them, not overcharging them and ensuring that they never completely discharge. Rechargeable batteries should be charged when they are not yet fully discharged. In addition, they should be stored at temperatures between 10 and 25 degrees; lower or higher temperatures can reduce the life expectancy of rechargeable batteries.
What can I do as an economic operator? → Focus on rechargeable batteries that will be able to cope with a large number of charging cycles. → Traction batteries from vehicles (electric and hybrid cars, electric buses) that have reached the end of their useful life are usually suitable for a second life, for instance as stationary energy stor- age devices for renewable energy. Simple measures can ensure that these batteries are reused and prolong their lifespan by 10 to 15 years. → Rechargeable batteries should be replaceable so that the products they power can be used for as long as possible.
Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste 41 Textiles Durable, hazard-free textiles
Fashion is in fashion. The number of items of clothing produced around the world doubled between 2000 and 2014. In Germany, around 1.01 million tonnes of used textiles are collected for recycling every year. The manufacture of tex- tile products comes with severe impacts on the environment. Textile finishing, for example, produces more wastewater than almost any other industrial sec- tor.
One of the particular problems in this context is the phenomenon of fast fash- ion, which sees clothes ranges in shops change up to 24 times a year. Fleeting fashion trends result in mass production of textiles which become waste mate- rial after a short period of use. In addition, the quality of products is becoming poorer and poorer, reducing their potential to be recycled or reused.
Examples of projects and initiatives Improving sustainability in textile production The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles has around 120 members from the private sector, politics, civil society, trade unions and standards organisa- tions. The partnership’s work encompasses the entire textile supply chain. The idea behind it is that, in the longer term, producing textiles sustainably will contribute to reducing the mass production of lower-quality products. This in turn will increase the lifespan of individual pieces of clothing.
Promoting good design Product design is a major factor in determining the environmental impact of textiles. The German Federal Ecodesign Award recognises manufactur- ers who attach importance to sustainable design for textile products, tak- ing technical, aesthetic, environmental, social and economic aspects into account.
42 Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste What can I do as a consumer? → Wear clothes for as long as possible. → Take a good look at your own choices: do I really need something new, do I have to follow every trend? → Or: can I or a tailor/dressmaker alter my clothes or repair them so that I can carry on wearing them? → Look for accredited textile labels when shopping for clothes: a por- tal created by the German government can help you navigate the ‘label jungle’: www.siegelklarheit.de → Rather than following fast fashion trends, buy new clothes less often but choose higher-quality items that you can wear for longer. → Swap clothes with other people or sell them at car-boot sales, in second-hand shops or online rather than throwing them away.
What can I do as an economic operator? → Promote clothes for hire. → Promote exchange platforms. → Set up an alteration service in your shop that can mend and alter clothes. → Promote the circular economy and sustainable production within the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, which is a multi-stakeholder initiative and therefore addresses not only retail companies but also other target groups such as institutions and the public sector.
What can local authorities do? → Promote repair centres and alteration services. → Promote clothes-swapping events/centres, flea markets and the like.
Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste 43 Detergents and Environmentally friendly laundry and cleaning cleaning agents
Detergents and cleaning agents may contain substances such as surfactants that are toxic to aquatic organisms. Moreover, some of their constituents are not readily degradable and accumulate in water bodies and sediments, where substances such as phosphorus and salts then contribute to salinisation and eutrophication. Eutrophication is the enrichment of a formerly nutrient-poor body of water with undesirable nutrients. This enables algae and certain aquatic plants to thrive, thus depriving other plants, microscopic organisms and animals of the conditions they need to survive.
Examples of projects and initiatives Sustainably clean The Forum Waschen (Laundry, Washing and Cleaning Forum) is a dialogue platform that brings together government agencies, ministries, research institutes and manufacturers of detergents and cleaning agents. The Forum’s purpose is to share information on and raise awareness of sus- tainable approaches in relation to laundry, dishwashing and cleaning. The initiative’s website (www.forum-waschen.de) provides useful advice for consumers, such as tips for sustainable spring cleaning.
Passing on household knowledge The Berufsverband der Haushaltsführenden (Network Household, DHB) has set itself the task of passing on household knowledge and skills and promoting vocational education and training in this field. Its website (www.dhb-netzwerk-haushalt.de) provides many useful tips on all aspects of running a household, cooking, laundry, cleaning and pollutants.
44 Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste What can I do as a consumer? → Use washable cloths for cleaning and dishwashing rather than kitchen paper or disposable dishcloths. → Use the right dosage; carefully read the instructions, and if nec- essary go online or contact relevant associations for advice. → If possible do not use chemical cleaning agents; in many cases, substances such as vinegar, lemon juice or other natural prod- ucts are sufficient for cleaning. → Look for products with the Blue Angel label or the EU Ecolabel. → Do not buy products featuring hazard pictograms. → Do not buy products containing microplastics, such as tooth- pastes, shampoos and cosmetics. A handy guide to avoiding microplastics when shopping can be downloaded from the BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany) website at www.bund. net/fileadmin/user_upload_bund/publikationen/meere/meere_ mikroplastik_einkaufsfuehrer.pdf → Further information on pollutants can be found on the Euskirchen district DHB leaflet:www.kreis-euskirchen.de/ umwelt/downloads/abfall/Flyer_Schadstoffe.pdf
What can I do as an economic operator? Manufacturers → When launching new products, make sure that they only con- tain substances that are essential for the washing or cleaning effect (for example no scented microbeads or laundry scents).
Retail trade → Display a list of products with the Blue Angel label/EU Ecolabel and provide information on labels and product contents. → Provide refillable containers for liquid detergents, soaps and cleaning agents.
Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste 45
Building materials Avoiding building waste
The construction sector is one of the most resource-intensive sectors of the German economy, with demand for material continuing to increase. Further- more, the construction and demolition of buildings produces large amounts of waste. According to the Germany-wide waste balance sheet, construction sec- tor waste amounted to 220.3 million tonnes in 2017 – more than 50 percent of the total waste arising. One particular challenge is that, because buildings last so long, polluting substances used for their construction which are now banned will not appear as waste until decades later.
Examples of projects and initiatives Reusing components recycled from construction sites The aim of Bauteilbörse Bremen (Bremen Building Components Exchange) is to act as a broker for usable building materials that have been obtained from demolitions or renovation projects. Its target groups include private individuals, skilled trade businesses, demolition companies, construction companies, planning offices and local authorities. Other positives are that users save the costs of disposal and can get hold of building materials that are not readily available elsewhere.
The building passport shows what buildings are made of In order to meet the growing demand for building materials while also conserving resources, recovering raw materials is becoming ever more important. However, it is often difficult to determine exactly what kind of materials have been used for the construction of a building. The building passport solves this problem. It documents all materials used in construc- tion and any subsequent changes to buildings, so that the original raw materials can be recovered in the best possible way. Another objective is to optimise maintenance and the conversion of buildings. These building passports are already in use for publicly owned buildings, but only rarely to date for privately owned buildings used for commercial purposes.
46 Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste What can I do as a consumer? → When building a house, choose construction methods that sup- port the concept of recycling and use building materials that are as environmentally friendly as possible. → Ask the construction company in charge for documentation on the materials and construction elements used (building passport). → When building or renovating a house, ask the architect or con- struction company to specifically look into using recycled mate- rials such as doors and windows.
What can I do as an economic operator? Recommendations for construction companies: → Use recycled building materials rather than primary materials → Use building materials, paints and varnishes certified with the Blue Angel ecolabel → Choose recycling-friendly construction methods and materials → Minimise inputs of pollutants in buildings → Document materials used in the construction of buildings → Use exchanges for (waste) building materials and building components → Keep construction site waste containing pollutants separate from other waste → Record and collect building waste separately on the building site according to different material groups
Recommendations for demolition companies: → Selective dismantling of polluted buildings
Recommendations for manufacturers of building materials and products: → Use waste from construction/demolition sites and/or recycled building materials in production → Provide documentation of treatments used in construction, highlight materials and any pollutants used → Offer recycle/return systems (for example Rewindo, for windows)
Treasure not Trash | Material flow – practical measures to reduce waste 47 Where can I find further information
on avoiding waste?
More detailed information on the issue of waste avoidance and prevention can be found in the waste avoidance programmes of the German government with the involvement of the Länder, online on the BMU website, the UBA website and on the BMU’s social media channels.
www.bmu.de/en/topics/water-waste-soil/waste-management
www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/topics/waste-resources/waste-management/ waste-prevention
We would like to invite you to participate in the annual European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) with an activity of your own. The numerous waste collection events organised by the Let’s Clean up Europe campaign also offer plenty of opportunities to take action yourself.
www.letscleanupeurope.de
The issue of waste avoidance is gaining more and more attention around the world. It offers opportunities for you to get involved and play an important and active part in protecting the environment, as well as opening up new market opportunities, including in the German market. Find out more!
48 Treasure not Trash List of abbreviations
BFR polybromierte Flammschutzmittel Brominated flame retardents
BMEL Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
BMI Bundesministerium des Innern, für Bau und Heimat Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community
BMU Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
BUND Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland Friends of the Earth Germany
CAU Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel Kiel University
CO2 Kohlenstoffdioxid carbon dioxide
DHB Deutscher Hausfrauen-Bund German Homemaker Association
DIY mach es selbst do it yourself
EFA NRW Effizienz-Agentur NRW NRW efficiency agency
Treasure not Trash 49 e.V. eingetragener Verein registered association
EWWR Europäische Woche der Abfallvermeidung (EWAV) European Week for Waste Reduction
HFCs Fluorchlorkohlenwasserstoff hydrofluorocarbons
GVM Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung mbH Association for packaging market research
NRW Nordrhein-Westfalen North Rhine-Westphalia
UBA Umweltbundesamt Federal Environment Agency
UNEP Umweltprogramm der Vereinten Nationen United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO Organisation der Vereinten Nationen für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
VDI ZRE VDI Zentrum Ressourceneffizienz GmbH VDI Centre for Resource Efficiency
WIRD Wiederverwendungs- und Reparaturzentren in Deutschland reuse and repair centres in Germany
50 Treasure not Trash Picture credits
Cover: pick-uppath / IStock Page 11: tai11 / Shutterstock Page 23: IDZ / hinterher.com Page 25: ollo / IStock Page 31: Thurtell / IStock Page 33: Ira_Shpiller /Adobe Stock
Treasure not Trash 51 www.bmu.de/english